Amid the cheers marking the end of the duel, Tetsuhiro and Dark Yugi stepped down from the arena.
"What a twisted sense of humor. You used my card to break through my trap and deal the finishing blow!" Dark Yugi's voice carried unmistakable sarcasm.
"Come on, don't put it like that. Keep smiling~" Tetsuhiro teased, looking perfectly relaxed.
Dark Yugi snorted and turned away, his jaw clenched tight. He was clearly displeased with Tetsuhiro's joke.
"All right, jokes aside, I actually planned that strategy based on Exodia's ideas."
"Your Majesty, don't make things up! I didn't! That wasn't me!" A dark shadow suddenly appeared behind Tetsuhiro, and Exodia's ancient Egyptian mask of a face began protesting anxiously.
Unfortunately, Exodia wasn't good with words, and Tetsuhiro's voice soon drowned out the protests.
"I'm not interested in hearing any of that. You're the champion now. Congratulations!" Dark Yugi folded his arms, his tone still cold.
Everyone gathered around as well, offering Tetsuhiro their congratulations.
Clap, clap, clap! Croquetts walked over, applauding, and handed him two cards and a check.
Tetsuhiro immediately passed the prize-money check to Joey Wheeler. "Take it and save your sister. Keep working hard. We've all seen how much you've grown."
Joey Wheeler took the check, his eyes instantly reddening. He wiped them hard and bowed deeply, his voice choked with emotion. "Th-thank you, Teacher Li."
Tetsuhiro took out the two cards. "One is the King of Games prize, [Gandora the Dragon of Destruction]."
He raised an eyebrow, secretly delighted. Yami Yugi's ace? So this was where he got it? Heh, now it's mine! It's one of the strongest cards in the current environment, capable of wiping the field and turning a duel around.
The other was [Ties of Friendship]. Tetsuhiro looked at Yami Yugi and said, "This card